Pakistan to Host SCO Leaders in October: Historical Context and Key Points

Historical Context: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a significant intergovernmental organization founded in 2001, primarily aimed at fostering political, economic, and security cooperation among its member states. The SCO’s origins trace back to the “Shanghai Five” group, established in 1996 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan joined in 2001, leading to the formation of the SCO. The organization has since expanded to include India and Pakistan as full members in 2017, reflecting its growing influence in Eurasian geopolitics.

News Article: ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of Government meeting in October, as announced by Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch during her weekly media briefing.

“Pakistan holds the rotating Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG), the SCO’s second-highest decision-making forum. In this capacity, Pakistan will be hosting the SCO Heads of Government Meeting in October this year,” Ms. Baloch stated.

The two-day meeting is scheduled for October 15-16. Prior to this, a ministerial meeting and several rounds of senior officials’ meetings will take place, focusing on financial, economic, socio-cultural, and humanitarian cooperation among SCO member states.

Ms. Baloch confirmed that Pakistan will extend invitations to all heads of governments of SCO member states for the summit, which will be held in person. “We hope and expect that all members of SCO will be represented at the Heads of Government meeting being held in October,” she added.

UN Report on Imran Khan’s Detention: In response to a recent UN body report labelling the detention of former Prime Minister Imran Khan as “arbitrary,” the Foreign Office spokesperson rejected the findings, calling the report “unwarranted” and based on an incomplete understanding of Pakistan’s legal system.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention criticized Mr. Khan’s detention, suggesting it violated international norms and lacked a legal basis, appearing to be politically motivated. The group called for Mr. Khan’s immediate release and urged reforms to ensure compliance with international human rights standards.

Ms. Baloch emphasized that Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees the rights and freedoms of all citizens, supported by an independent judiciary. She defended Pakistan’s legal processes, stating that there are adequate mechanisms in place for seeking justice and redressal of grievances.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• Event: Pakistan to host the SCO Heads of Government meeting in October.
• Dates: The meeting is scheduled for October 15-16.
• Chairmanship: Pakistan holds the rotating Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of Government.
• Preceding Events: Ministerial and senior officials’ meetings will focus on financial, economic, socio-cultural, and humanitarian cooperation.
• Invitations: All SCO member states’ heads of government will be invited to the in-person summit.
• UN Report on Imran Khan: The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention criticized Imran Khan’s detention as arbitrary and politically motivated.
• Pakistan’s Response: The Foreign Office rejected the UN report, emphasizing the independence of Pakistan’s judiciary and the robustness of its legal system.
• Legal Context: Imran Khan has faced multiple legal battles since his ousting in 2022, with charges ranging from corruption to incitement.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2024